(L-R) Karen Schooley, electrical and computer engineering, Fernando Rivero Hernandez, electrical and computer engineering, both celebrating 10 years, with Annette Dietrich of the Staff Relations Committee, at yesterday's staff service recognition reception. Photo by Chris Hughes, ELED Photography.

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Environment 3 to LEED the way...

I'm truly sorry about the headline, but I just couldn't resist

Opening celebrations get underway at 10:30 a.m. this morning for the Faculty of Environment's newest building, Environment 3, pictured above. The 57,000-square-foot building accommodates the School of Planning and the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED).

The building showcases innovative sustainable design and is on track to meet exacting criteria for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum status - an internationally accepted benchmark for high-performance green buildings. LEED platinum designation meets at least 52 points in sustainable site development, water and energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality and innovation in design. Environment 3 will be one of the first public buildings with LEED certification in Ontario.

"Environment 3 is a bold step forward for our faculty and for the University of Waterloo as leaders in environmental sustainability," said André Roy, dean of the Faculty of Environment. "We decided to go for LEED Platinum status with this building because we believe in leading by example. We wanted to create a space that provides the ideal environment for hands-on learning and demonstrates, in a very tangible way, our commitment to the environment. Environment 3 shows that it is possible to aim high and succeed."

Environment 3 contains teaching space, including a lecture theatre, extensive design studio space, seminar rooms, student study and project areas, as well as student commons space on every floor. There is also study space for graduate students and offices for faculty members. The building was designed by Kevin R. McCluskey of Akitt, Swanson + Pearce Architects Inc.

Environment 3's distinctive structure keeps the physical footprint of the building to a minimum. It was built to wrap over and around the existing Environment 1 and 2 buildings, with the third and floor floors being structurally independent. Its third floor garden patio features native and experimental plantings. A solar power system will span a large section of the roof that will generate 60,000 KWh per year. Its atrium, with a staircase spanning all four floors, showcases a two-storey bio wall that connects to the building's HVAC system and acts as a natural air filter.

Joining President Hamdullahpur and Dean of Environment André Roy today will be Peter Braid, Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Waterloo, and the Honourable John Milloy, Minister of Community and Social Services and Government House Leader. The two governments provided most of the funding for Environment 3, with a Government of Canada investment through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) and a contribution from the Ontario government through the 2009 budget that together total $14 million.

Tours highlighting the sustainable features of Environment 3 are regularly available on Wednesday and Friday (registration required).

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...with a boost from the Minto Group

a news release from the media relations office

The Minto Group, a real estate, development, construction, and property management company, announced today it has donated $1 million to Environment 3.

A further gift of $100,000 from The Minto Group will fund scholarships in the nationally recognized School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED), a key occupant in the new building. The 57,000-square-foot building, the third one in the faculty of environment, is also the new home for the well-established School of Planning.

Minto's vision and commitment to sustainably designed buildings played a contributing role in Environment 3 being on track for LEED Platinum status.

The building contains much-needed student and teaching space, including a 150-seat lecture theatre, which, along with the grand four-storey atrium, will be named the Minto Lecture Hall and Atrium.

"With this gift, The Minto Group shows that it values the environment as an important corporate social responsibility," said Roger Greenberg, CEO of the Minto Group. "I believe that actively pursuing green initiatives through industry leadership, innovation and education will help future generations find ways to create a healthier planet."

Minto’s gift of $100,000 in scholarships will help create a new generation of sustainability leaders over the next 10 years. "We are very grateful to Minto for the support being given our students in SEED," said Neil Craik, director for SEED. "Scholarships provide not only financial resources for students but also recognition and encouragement to pursue their studies."

The school offers degrees that integrate environment, business and development education. By 2012, SEED will produce the largest number of graduates with combined business, development and environmental expertise of any school in North America.

The Minto Group's pacesetting donation will spark other donors to support the fundraising campaign for the $23-million Environment 3 building.

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VeloCity wins award; other notes

VeloCity is the recipient of Communitech's 2011 Tech Impact Award. "In a Region infused with such a range of talent and contribution in the tech sector, the annual Tech Impact awards are especially meaningful and VeloCity is highly deserving of this recognition," said Iain Klugman, CEO of Communitech.

The focus of VeloCity is to develop Canada's next generation of successful entrepreneurs. Students in VeloCity build their startups and their professional networks while living in the VeloCity residence on campus and working in the VeloCity workspace at The Communitech Hub. The award was handed out at Communitech's Annual General Meeting, which took place Thursday evening at the Tannery.

Other notes on a Friday:

"The myHRinfo team will be providing Test Drive Centres to give employees the opportunity to stop by and ask questions regarding myHRinfo," writes Stacy Parsons, Manager, Information Systems. "During the Test Drive Centre times you can ask questions about and practice using any of the new functionality provided with the recent myHRinfo upgrade." The Test Drive Centre days and times are listed below. All sessions are located in MC1078.

The Health Services flu clinic is open today from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre's multipurpose room. The flu clinic is open to Waterloo students, employees and their families.

Studies in Islam presents a public lecture by Professor Steven Furino of the Faculty of Mathematics entitled, “From Athens to Paris Through Baghdad” tonight at 6:30 p.m., in room 2106 at Renison University College. This lecture will explore the influence of 9th century scholar Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, who, according to the lecture's promotional materials, "shaped the evolution of mathematics from the classical geometry of Euclid to the algebra and analytic geometry of Descartes." Light refreshments will be served.

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